EPR (Extended Producer Responsibility) is not a new phenomenon. It has been promoted by individuals and organisations aware of the issues surrounding excess waste since the 1990s. Back then there were just 30 EPR schemes in place around the world, a number dwarfed by the 400 schemes of today.

Bringing EPR to the forefront of waste management strategies in the modern-day enables companies to:

• Vastly reduce the total amount of waste packaging produced globally.
• Track and recycle more packaging than ever before.

• Regulate excessive packaging entering the marketplace.

While EPR does mean additional costs for companies, in many cases the costs can be avoided or even negated by a bonus based on the sustainability of the packaging used to ship the product in question. These incentives for companies have led to a decrease in the total weight of packaging used across various product groups within the European Union.

For example, the use of aluminium and cardboard for packaging drinks and dry foods has been reduced by 18% between the years 2000 and 2010.

Now, certain member states of the European Union will be implementing differing EPR schemes for sellers actively shipping products into their country. France, Germany, and Italy are set to be the first countries to introduce these schemes, impacting all online sellers, from Amazon Marketplace to independent retailers.

The EPR guidelines in each country differ in many ways. It is vital to do your research before shipping products to ensure that you are compliant with local rules, and benefit from as many fee savings as possible.

For example, Italy has released a detailed set of criteria available for sellers, based on sortability and recyclability, including fee penalties and fee reductions depending upon the criteria met / not met.

Countries such as France and Germany have made fee reductions available based upon the recyclable content included in the packaging, increasing to almost 100% if all criteria is met.

France will also be increasing or decreasing the fee attached to the EPR scheme based upon the products durability, repairability, reusability and waste prevention status. A move that has been hailed for driving consumer friendliness.

TBA Global is the UK’s leading specialist on EPR for Amazon Marketplace sellers. Providing guidance to business’s navigating the legislation minefield.

Check our insights section for more information on EPR and advice for Amazon Sellers.

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